Track Information in a Terminal with WTF
At a Glance
This simple dashboard tool keeps you up to date on everything from system information to soccer scores.
No matter how much AI advances and graphical interfaces improve, knowing how to use console programs will always be useful, and there will always be some console programs that are faster, safer, and more efficient than their more sophisticated competitors. That's why I like the "personal information dashboard for your terminal" called WTF [1].
WTF is lean, fast, and completely distribution-independent – and it is usable even on remote computers through SSH connections. WTF can even support two different use cases on one system – for instance, one for software developers and one for ordinary users. The WTF terminal dashboard first made its mark in the software development community (see the "WTF for Software Management" box), but it is also quite practical for ordinary users.
What really makes WTF useful is its many modules, which you can combine any way you want. Each module is a small chunk of code that grabs data from one source and presents it inside a widget (a customizable part of the terminal window). My own current WTF setup (Figure 1) includes 10 widgets. By the time you read this, it will likely be different, because I can't stop tweaking it.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Refreshes the Lemur Laptop
If you're looking for a laptop with tons of power and battery, look no further than the latest iteration of the System76 Lemur Pro.
-
More than 43 Million Lines of Code in Linux Kernel 7.2
Using the cloc utility, Michael Larabel of Phoronix discovered that Linux kernel 7.2 has over 43 million lines of code.
-
Kubuntu Focus Goes Ultra
The Kubuntu Focus team has upped the performance ante of its M2 and Zr laptops with the latest, greatest CPUs from Intel.
-
Linux Gamers May Soon See Less Mouse Lag in KDE Plasma
Gamers using KDE’s Plasma desktop have been suffering from a slight input delay in mouse movement that could lead to getting fragged.
-
Three Lines of Code Improve Linux Storage Performance
A developer changed three lines of code, giving Linux storage performance a 5% bump.
-
AUR Hit Again with Malicious Packages
Once again the Arch User Repository is plagued by a high volume of malicious packages.
-
Alpine Linux 3.24 Features Fresh Desktops and a Newer Kernel
If you're a fan of Alpine Linux, it's time to upgrade because the latest version has been released with KDE Plasma 6.6, Gnome 50, and Linux kernel 6.18 LTS.
-
EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
Comprehensive measures adopted by the European Commission aim to reduce dependency on non-EU countries.
-
Linux Foundation Report Indicates AI Driving Tech Hiring
Within growing security and skills gaps, AI has been found to be a positive driving force behind tech hiring trends in Europe.
-
United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
A new open source portal seeks to coordinate and scale open source efforts across the United Nations system.